Amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A accident near San Antonio, Texas, May 3, 1984
On May 3, 1984, a amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A, registered N82DS, was destroyed in an accident near San Antonio, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1984
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIGER MOTH DH 82A TIGER MOTH
- Registration
- N82DS · registry record · serial NL-904
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN PASTURE WITH TREES ON THE WESTERN PERIMETER. THE ACFT ATTITUDE AT IMPACT WAS NOSE DOWN AT A 30 TO 50 DEGREE ANGLE IN A RIGHT SPIRAL. THE MAIN FUEL TANK MOUNTED ON THE TOP WING OVER AND BEHIND THE ENGINE BROKE FROM ITS MOUNT ON IMPACT AND RUPTURED. A FIRE BROKE OUT AND CONSUMED THE ACFT. A 11 YR OLD BOY SAID HE SAW THE ACFT CLIMB OVER SOME TREES, MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THEN HE HEARD THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. THE ACFT NOSED OVER SHARPLY AND DESCENDED BELOW THE TREES. THE WITNESS THEN SAW THE FIRE BALL. PLTS WHO HAD FLOWN THE ACFT SAY IT STALLS WITHOUT WARNINGIF POWER IS RETARDED AND THE SPEED IS DISSIPATED AND THAT THE ACFT ALWAYS FELL OFF ON THE RIGHT WING DURING THE STALL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,859 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,770 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: De Havilland 1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: San Antonio TX at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.